Embossing-machine.



P. A. GARDNER.

EMBOSSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man OCT. 28. 1914.

Patented 1m 15, 1915. 1 3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

P. A. GARDNER.

EMBOSSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1914.

Patentd June 15, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- bossing, or otherwise marking articles and g :Ba-it known that I, Ramon y a citizen of the United States, residingat.

- of St.. Louis, State ofMissouruhavc -invented--eertain new and useful Improvements in -Embossing-Machines, of whichthe warren-a. ennnfnn'n, ors'r, new; museum.-

nunossmwacmm.

-..g,.amaon c temnant.- Patented June 15, 1 915.

' materialism October 28,445.14. Serial 889,016.

Toallwlzomitmayconaem: a-Gmmm,

following isa specification.

a This invention relates to presses for-.em-

relates, moreparticularly, to hand operated presses for embossing, impressing, stamping,

' or otherwise marking characters, words, de-

signs, and the like upon book-covers, card cases, purses, suit cases, bags, valises, har- .nem, and many other articles of leather, cloth, and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described of simple, cheap, and strong con-.

struc'tion, which is efiicient in operation, of great power simply and evenly applicable,

which will quickly and readily produce clear, even work in embossing, impressing, stamping, or otherwise marking articles,

and which is adjustably adapted to do such work upon articles of many different shapes and sizes.

A further object is to provide, 1n an'apparatus of the character described, means for conveniently embossing, 1mpress1ng,-stampmg, or otherwise marking upon asurface of material, such, for instance, .as leather of uneven thickness.

Another object of the present invention is:

to provide a press of the character described mounted upon a slidable leaf of a table hereinafter described in the manner and for the purpose set forth in this specification.

part of this specification wherein like nlunbers of reference denote like parts whereverv they occur, Figure l is a side View, partly in elevation and partly inv section, of a press and associated parts embodying this invention (a part of the operating lever being brokenaway) with the slida-ble leaf and the table shown in Fig. 5 removedtherefrom;

Fig. 2 is a plan View looking down upon the. adjustable straight -.edge device and asso-; ciated parts," the upwardly extending stand-- ard being shown in section on the line 2- 2, Fig. 1, and the'parts above said line shown in Fig; 1 having been removed from said planview; Fig.3 is a front view in elevation of an apparatus embodying the present.

a portion of the operatinglever having been broken away, s'howi a separable 'rockered member supporte on the b se-oithe apparatus, .part of said base adpinof said member in the "pin hole of said base; 4= is 'a'fragmentary side view,

.partl y in plan and partly in section, show- ..ing particularly .the' lower portion of the.,,65

:plunger; and' artsl'associatedfthere ,withy-Fig. 5. is a an view looking down upon the slidabl' table and the slidable leaf thereof from which the press shown in Fig.

,1 has beengremoved; Fig. 6 is a sectional. Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sec viewjon the line. 6-6 tionalview of the table shown in Fig. 5 on the line7--7, Fig. 5, with the press (Fig.1)

;.mounted on said table, showing, also, in dotted lines the position of said press and the slidable leaf when the slidable leaf supsaid-bearing being adapted pivotally to support the fulcrum end of operating lever 7. Casing 5 is preferably of hollow cylindrical construction open at both ends and made in two vertically divided halves (as best seen in Fig. 1) the two halves being removably attached to each other by any suitable means, such, for instance, as by means. of

. bolts 8 clamping together opposite pairs of In the accompanying drawings forming screw-threaded and adapted to receive an adjusting screw 11, said screw being adapted adjustably to limit the downward movement of lever 7 Base-plate 1, extension 2, lugs 3, arm 4, the rearward half of casing 5 'with its flanges 8 and lug 10, and pivotal bearing 6 are preferably a metallic casting made in one piece.

The interior of easing 5 is preferably provided with an inwardly extending annular shoulder 12 adjacent to each end of said casing, that is the opening at each end of jacent. to a pinhole'being broken awa to 50 show the means .ofsupporting a depen ing reduced portions at each opening being adapted to form'a bearing for plunger stem.

articles by acters, design, die or the like desired to be embossed, stamped, impressed or otherwise articles placed thereunder, said pallet or 13 (preferably of hollow cyhndrical .conholder being preferably provided with .jaws

' wardly protruding end of said pin beingtension of spring 1 same and beingslidable downward and upward in its bearings in said casing. The lower end of said stem may be provided with an enlarged portion bearing a shoulder 14, said shoulder abutting upon -an ad acent edge of the end of easing 5 when said stem is in normal position as shown in the drawings, said stem being held in that position K under tension of spiral spring 15, said spring being supported upon lower shoulder 12 in casing 5 and the upper portion of said spring preferably resting against the protruding ends of a pin 16 or the like insertedtransversely through stem 13 adjacent the upper portion of said stem. The upper end of plunger stem 13 maybe provided with an antifriction roller 17 revolubly supported in the hollow of said stem by meansof a pin 18 or the like inserted transversely through said stem, and, to provide clearance for an adjacent portion of lever 7 in operating same, a downwardly inclined slope 19 may be provided on the rearward portion of the upper end of stem 13, so that when poweris applied to the power .end of lever 7, a surface of said lever adjacent its load will be in contact with said anti-friction roller and cause said roller to rotate, thus facilitating the depression of stem 13 against the 15. Plunger stem' 13 is held in position against rotary motion in its bearings by any suitable means, such, for instance, as by means of in 15 protruding into the interior of casing 5 through an appropriate opening in said casing, the inadapted slidably to engage a vertical groove in said plunger-stem. The enlarged lower portion of stem 13 bearing shoulder 14 is provided witha forward extension 20 pro-- truding horizontally forward beyond the front of casing 5, said extension bearing two oppositely disposed laterally extending arms 21 and a forwardly extending nose 22, said nose having preferably a fiat under surface and curved sides bearing a flat ridge as best seen in Fig. 3. Nose 22 is adapted to enter the arched opening of pallet or holder 23, said holder being held firmly in place on said nose against adjacent portions of arms 21 by means of wedge 24 inserted into the space formed between the flat ridge of nose 22 and the curve of the arch of said arched opening of said pallet or holder 23. Pallet or holder 23 is of the ordinary construction adapted to ex-- 24 ada ted to hold said type, characters, de-

jaws being adjustable upon right and left screw-threaded bar-25 b means of manipulating either of'finger pieces 26 in the usual manner.

marked upon the book-cover or other Straight-edge '27 is adapted to form an I upri ht wall facing the operator and extendmg'laterally across the surface of baseplate 1, or separable platform 28, the upright wall of said edge being preferably of su stantially equal height to the height of lugs 3 above the surface of said base-plate, -a convenient height having been found in practice to be about seven-eighths (g) of an inch, and said edge being slidably adjustable toward and away from the operator by any suitable means, such, for instance, as by means of a pair-of rearwardly extending slotted guiding arms 29 of any suitable length borne by .said edge at portions thereof adjacent to one of its long side edges. Thumb-screws 30 inserted through the slot of each of said arms into appro- "priate holes in lugs 3 may be provided to furnish convenient means for sliding said as shown in Fig. 7, with the non-arm-bear-o ing long side-edge as the base.

' A car 31 having a grooved portion adapted to straddle straight-edge 27, as best seen in Fig. 1, may be provided, said car having preferably two parallel walls adapted to extend forward from said edge at a rightangle thereto as best seen in Fig. 2, said .car being slidable along said edge and being adapted to be set securely in any adjusted position along said edge by any suitable -means, such, for instance, as by means of thumbscrews 32 whose inner end is adapted to press against an adjacent portion of said edge, said screw preferably passing through a perforated lug 33 (the perforatlon being screw-threaded) borne by the rear Wall of the straddling portion of said car 31. The two parallel walls of car 31 permit same to be used as a guide for squaring articles to be marked convenient to the right hand or left hand of the operator. 4

It has been found diflicult, by the means ordinarily employed, to obtain a satisfactory impression, stamp, emboss, or mark upon an article, such, for instance, as a card-case, where one portion underneath the surface desired to be worked upon is thicker than another. To avoid this difliculty in a press embodying the present invention, a sepasite each other) depending from the under surface of said platform and entering into suitable holes 36 in base-plate 1, said holes being sufficiently large to permit lateral play of said pinsvtherein as said platform is rocked in operating the press as hereinafter described. In order to permit of the satisfactory use of straight-edge 27 and parts associated therewith and to provide a surface level rearwardly with the surface of rockered platform 34, a second separable platform 28 to the rear of rockable platform 34 may be provided, said separable platform 28 being substantially of similar thickness as that of rockered platform 34: (in practice a thickness of about seveneighths of an inch has been found satisfactory for ordinary purposes), and said separable platform 28 may be provided with pins 37 (preferably in a position diagonally opposite each other) depending from the under surface of said platform and adapted to enter suitable holes therefor in base-plate l to hold said platform 28 in place upon said base-plate.

In operating the press with rockable member 34 and separable platform 28 in place on base-plate 1 as just described, the articleto be marked having been placed on rockered platform 34, straight-edge 27, and

car 31 having been moved to and set in proper position to permit the operator to hold said article true and square with reference to the die or the like previously secured in holder or pallet 23 in adjusted position, and said pallet having been wedged in place upon nose 22, power is applied to the power end of lever 7 andsaid lever is pressed downwardly upon anti-friction roller 17 borne at the upper end of plungerstem 13, whereupon said stem slides down Avardly in its bearings against the tension of spring 15, thusmoving pallet or holder 23 with its die downward toward the article to be marked, .andas the downward pres sure of lever 7 is continued, the downward movement of said stem and holder or pallet continues until the die in said holder or pallet presses upon the upper surface of the article on rockered platform 34: and as the pressure continues, rockered platform rocks as the die presses upon the unequal thickness of said article thus presenting all portions ofthe; surface of said article to be marked equally to appropriate parts of said die or the like producing a clear even mark of said dieor the like upon said article.

-When the mark has been made upon the article as described, the power is released from the power end of lever 7, whereupon plunger-stem 13 under tension of spring 15 recedes to normal position lifting said lever, and, also, withdrawing holder or pallet 23 with its die away from the marked article.

By manipulating adjusting screw 11, by screwing same out or in, the downward throw of lever 7 may be limited so that when a portion of said lever adjacent said screw strikes the top of said screw in the downward stroke of said lever further downward movement will be arrested, thus limiting, also, the downward stroke of plungerstem and the downward movement of pallet or holder v23 with its die or the like. In this way, when the operator is marking a number of similar articles with the same die or the like, he may, having ascertained the degree of downward throw of lever 7 suitable for producing a mark satisfactory upon one of said articles, set adjusting screw 11 in position to limit the downward throw of of said plates 39 and 40 and over the space between said plate, a transverse top endplate 42 is placed and secured in place by any suitable means, such, for instance, as by being nailed or bolted to said plates 39 and 40, and underneath the rear end portions of said plates 39 and 40, a bottom end- -plate' 43, which may be similar in length, width, and thickness to said top end-plate 42, may be placed transversely across said plates 39, 40, and the space therebetween, said bottom end-plate being secured in place by anysuitable'means, such, for instance, as by means of nailing or bolting same to said plates 39 and. 40.- By means of-this construction, a covered channel, open at the rear and forward ends, will be formed,-the

bottom of said channel being the upper surface of a portion of bottom end-plate 43 between side plates 39 and 40, the top of said channel being the under surface .of a

portion of top end-plate 42 between side f-pla'tes 39 and 40, and the sidesof said channel being portions of-the side edgesofsaid plates 39 and 40, the forward end opening of said channel communicating with the space between said plates 39 and 40. At the forward ends'of said side plates 39 and 4'), a front end bottom-plate 44 may be provided of similar thickness as 'that of rear end bottom-plate 43 and which may, also, be similar to said rear end bottom-plate 43 in its other dimensions, said front end bottomplate being placed transversely across the bottom of the front end portions of side plates 39 and 40, and across the space therebetween, slightly overlapping the under surface of said portion of said side plates and extending. forwardly beyond the front ends of said side plates, said front end bottomplate beingsecured in place by any suitable means, such, for instance, as by being nailed or bolted to said side plates. Three front end top-members 45, 46, and 47 may be provided, said members being adapted each to rest upon a portion of the upper surface of front end bottom-plate 44 adjacent, respectively, to said three members, members 45 and 46 being plates of similar dimensions placed upon and bolted or otherwise secured to front end bottom-plate 44 with the rear edge of member 45 abutting against the front edge of side plate 39 and with the rear edge of member 47 abutting against the front edge of side plate 40, said members 45 and 47 being preferably each of a similar thickness to that of plates 39 and 40, and being spaced apart a similar distance to that at which side plates 39 and are spaced apart. I Member 46 is preferably hinged to member 47 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and is adapted removablyj to cover the spacebetween members and 47, so that when said hinged'member is in posi-' tion resting upon the adjacent portion of the upper surface of front end bottom-plate ,44 (as best seen in Figs. 5'and 6), the upper surface presented by members 45, 46, and 45 47 will be substantially an even one, and when hinged member 46 is swung upwardly on its hinged attachment in the arc dotted .in Fig. 6, the space between members 45 and 47 will register with the space between 50 side plates 39 and 40, it being understood that the rear edge of hinged member 46 is in line with the rear edges of members 45 and47. Slidable leaf- 41 is adaptedt'o fit in the space"bet ween side lates 39 and 40 and preferably extends rom the rear 'edgeof hinged member 46 (when said member is in closed position best seen in Fig, 5) rearwardly, through the closed channel, above described, and beyond the rear ends of'rear end top and bottom-plates 42 and 43- for a suflicient distance so that rear end 48 and a portion of leaf 41 adjacent to said rear end 48 may be between said reartop and 1 bottom-pl'ates in saidchannel when said slidable leaf is moved forward between plates 39 and 40 and between members 45 and 47 in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described. The space on slidable leaf 41 (when said leaf is in the position shown in Fig. 5 and in the full lines in Fig. 7 with hinged member 46 in closed position) between the rear edge of hinged member 46 and the forward edge of rear in "Fig. 2. Thus the press hereinabove dea scribed will be supported on said slidable leaf in the osition shownin Fig. 7. When said slidaLB-1-. leafwith the press thereon is in the position shown in the full lines,

Fig. 7, a separable slab 50, of a thickness equal to the height of the upper surface of base-plate 1 above the upper surface of hinged member 46, may be provided and may be held in place by means of pins 51 depending from the under surface of said slab and adapted to enter appropriate holes 52 therefor in said hinged member 46, said pins being preferably two in diagonally opposite positions on the bottom of said slab, the purpose of said slab being to provide an even surface extension forward from "the forward end of base plate 1.

In case rockered platform 34 is used on base-plate 1 of a press in the position shown infull lines, Fig. 7, slab 50 may bemade of sufficient thlckness so that its upper surface will be substantially level with the upper surface -of-rockered platform 34 when said platform is in even balanced level position. In operation, movable leaf 41 being, with the'press thereon, in the position last above described, and table 38 having thereon slab 50, holder or pallet 23 with type, character, design, die or the like held therein being in place upon nose 22,'the article desired tobe imarked may be placed on base-plate 1 under said holder, said article being squared into proper place and position by means of straight-edge 27 and the arms of car '31 (said edge and said'ca-r having been moved is applied to the power end of lever 7 to pull said lever downward upon its load, whereby.

plunger-stem 13 is moved downward a ainst the tension of spring 15 thus bearing ownthe like being pressed against the surface of the article on base-plate 1, lever 7 being forced downward with suitable power, said 13 will recede'upwardly under tension 'of' to and set in an adjusted-position), power ""ward, also, pallet or holder 23 and the die or spring 15 to normal position shown in the drawings, thus elevat ng lever 7 (the tensionof spring 15 being preferably sufficient therefor) and lifting holder 23 upwardly away from the marked article.

It is sometimes inconvenient to mark an article because of its bulk or for some other reason, when slidable leaf 4:1 and the press thereon is in the position shown in the fulllines in Fig. 7, and, therefore, the present invention provides that said leaf with the press thereon may he slid forward through the passage formed by swinging the free, end of" hinged member 46 open on the dotted line are shown in Fig. 6, thus removing said hinged member from the upper surface of i the present invention, some that maybe parsaid suit-case by operating front end-plate 44 between members 45 and 47, and thus removing said hinged-member out of the path of slidable leaf 41 in its forward movement. Slidable leaf 41 with the press thereon may then be slid forward from the full line position shown in- Fig. 7 to the dotted line position shown in said figure, and in this new position the front edge of base-plate 1 and slidable' leaf LI-will protrude forward beyond the front edges of members 45, 46, and 47 thus making convenient the marking of an article, such, for instance, as a suit-case by permitting said suit-case. to be opened and hung over the forwardly protruding end-portion of said base-plate and facilitating the marking of any desired portion of the outer surface of the press in th manner hereinabove described.

It. is, of course, understood that, if desired, rockered platform 34 and. separable platform 28 may be used (in which case straightedge 27 and parts associated therewith are used in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2) either when slidable leaf 41 with the press thereon is in the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 7 or when same is inthe position shown in the dotted lines in said figure, and, also, thatin either of said positions of said leaf and press the upper surface of base-plate 1 may be used as the operating platform, said separable platform 28 and said rockered platform 34. being removed, and straight-edge 27 reversed to the position thereof illustrated. in Fig. 7.

Among the many advantages provided by ticularly mentioned are, that: The slidabie leaf with the press thereon facilitates marking upon articles of practically all shapes and sizes with said press; the rockered platform provides an effective and simple means for marking articles of uneven thickness with an even mark; the adjustable limiting device 11 effectively limits, in a simple manner, the degree of the downward throw of lever 7, the downward stroke of plunger-stem 13, and the downward movement of holder or pallet 23 toward the article on the operating platform; and the spring control of the plunger-stem automatically recedes said holder or pallet from contact with a marked article when the power is rem'oved from the power-end of lever 7., i

Many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the nature and spirit of the present invention.

1. In a press of the character described, a casing, a plunger slid'able vertically in said casing and protruding above and below the latter through oppositely disposed openings therein, means borne by the lower portion of said plunger adapted to limit the upward movement of the latter, a spring borne by said plunger adapted normally to hold the plunger in position against upward movement, a lever adapted to exert power against the tension of said spring, a forwardly protruding nose borne by the lower portion of said plunger outside of said casing, a-

lever adapted to exert power against the upwardly protruding end of said plunger to move said plunger downwardly against the tension of said'spring, and a forwardly protrudingnose borne by the lower portion of said plunger outside of said casing, said nose having a flat base and arched sides converging to a flat ridge, a type carrier supported on said nose, and a wedge positioned on the fi'at ridge engaging the type carrier.

3. In a press of the character described, a

casing, a plunger slidable vertically in said casing, said plunger protruding above and below said casing through oppositely disposed openings therein, means borne by the lower portion of said plunger adapted to limit the upward movement of said plunger, a spring borne by said plunger, said spring being adapted normally to hold said plunger inposition against downward movement, a

lever adapted to exert power a ainst the upwardly protruding end of sai plunger to move said plunger downwardly against the tension of said spring, a forwardly protruding nose borne by the lower portion of said plunger outside of said casing, and holder for dies and the like, said holder having an opening adapted to admit said nose lherethrough said holder and an axiallymovable wed e.

associated therewith adaptedto hold. t e nose and dieholder relatively immovable. 4. In' a press of the character described, a

casing, a plunger slidable vertically in said casing, said plungerv protruding above, and below said casing through OPPOSltQlY-dlS- osed openings therein, means borne by the ower portion'of-said plunger adapted to limit the upward-movement of said lunger, a spring borne by said plunger, sa1 sprlng being adapted normally to hold said plunger in position against downward movement, a lever adapted to exert power againstthe upwardly protruding end of said plunger .to move said plunger downwardly ainst the tension of said spring, and a orwardly protruding nose borne by the lower portion of said plunger outside of said casing, said 'nose having a flat base and arched; sides converging to a flat ridge, a holder. for dies and the like, said holder havingan open ing adapted to admitsaid nose therethrough to support said holder, and a wedge adapted;

to enter a space in said opening between the flat ridge of said nose and an adjace t portion of said holder re'movably to ho d, said holder firmly in place on said nose.

5. In a press of the character described, the combination with a base-plate. adapted to support the article'to be-marked, of. arearwardextension of said base-plate, a pair of lugs borne by said, extension, a movable straight-edge borne by saidbase-plateex-J tending beyond the side edges of the same. and a pair of rearwardly extending arms borne by saidstraight-edge formed integral;

therewith having an elongated guide-oped ing therein, each arm. being slidabljsup: i

ported by a corresponding one ofsaid-pair of lugs, each lug bearing a screw-threaded member protruding through the guide-opening of an adjacent arm and being adapted slidably to engage said opening topermit saidstraight-edge to be moved forward and backward upon said base-plate, said screwthreaded member being," also, adapted to lock said straight-edge in a set position.-

-6. Ina press of the character described, the combination with a base-plate adapted to support the article to be marked, of a rearward extension of said base-plate, a pair of lugs borne by said extension, a movable straight-edge borne by'said base-plate, and

a pair of rearwardly extending arms borne; by said-straight-edge having an elongated:

guide-opening therein, each arm being slidably supported by a corresponding one of 7 said pair of lugs, each lug bearing a screw-f threaded member protruding through the guide-opening of an adjacent arm and being 1 adapted slidably to engage said opening to permit said straight-edge to be movedfon.

ward and backward upon said base-plate, said screw-threaded said plate, t

iam

to l ok S id straight-edge slottedmember slidabg slot by said straight-e war extending para el arms borne by said; otted member, each supported in .its

e, a pair of for- 10' of sa d arms havbeing also, adapts.

in a set position, a

ing adateral wall substantially at .a right angle'to said straight-edge, anda screw-1 I threaded member borneby said slotted member, said. screwthreaded member .being adapte d to lock Said slotted member in a set position on said straight-edge.

7. n a press of the character the combination with a. base-plate therefor,

of a .rockered-botto m platform removably loosely conpoints, said borne bysaid base-plate an nected thereto at ,two different platform having a flat upper surface adaptthe combination with a base-plate therefor, of a rockered-bottom platform removably borne by said base-plate,said platform'having an uppclis rface adapted to support thereon anarticle to. be marked, and a plurality. of

bottom. 0 pending membersbeing adapted to enter an adjacent opening in. said base-plate to hold to support ..thereon the article to be. 3 marked. Q

- 8. In a press of the character described,

said openings being sufliciently large to permit lateral play of the depending member therein as sald platform is. rocked.

9. Ina press of the character described,

of; a rockered-bottom ce -.adapted to support depend membersborne by the rockeredid platform, each of said de-f platform in place upon said base-plate,

ered-bottom-of: said platform, said depend- Y ing members being ;in ,a position relatively diagonal to each g other and each. being adapted-to enter one of a pairofopenin in said base-plate to hold said platform 1n place 'on said base-plate, each of said'open play of the depending. member therein when said platform is rocked. a

10. In a press of the character described,

ofa rockered-bottom nab lie upper surface. of said platform being adapted to su port the article to be marked, and a' flatottomed latform re- -ings being sufficiently large to permit lateral 1 the combination with a base-plate therefor,

platform removably the forward portion of said base- '12. a

movablyborneby said base-p ate and extending thereon rearward the rockered-bottom platform, the'upper surface of said flatbottomed. platform being substantially level with ,the upper surface of said rockered platform when said rockered-bottom platform is in evenly balanced position on its rockered-bottom.

11. In a press of the character described; the combination with a base-plate therefor, of a rockered-bottom platform removably borne by the forward portion of said baseplate, the upper surface of said platform being adapted to support the article to be marked, means depending from the rockcred-bottom of said platform adapted to enter appropriate openings in said baseplate to hold said platform in place thereon, said openings being sufliciently large to allow lateral playof said depending means as said platform is rocked, a fiat-bottom platform removably borne by said base-plate and extending rearward the rockered-bottom platform, the upper surface of said flatbottom platform being substantially level with the upper surface of said rockered-bottom platform when said rockered-bottom platform is in evenly balanced position on its rockered bottom, and means depending from said'fiat-bottom platform adapted to enter appropriate openings in said baseplate to hold said fiat-bottom platform in place. i

12. In a press of the character described, the combination with a base-plate therefor, said base-plate having a rearward extension,

of a rockered-bottom platform removably borne by the forward portion of said platform, a flat-bottom platform removably borne by said base-plate and extending thereon rearward the rockered-bottom platform, the upper surface of said fiat-bottom platform being substantially level with the upper surface ofsaid rockered-bottom plat- 7 form when the latter is in evenly balanced position-on its rockered-bottom, a pair of lugs borne by said rearward extension of said base-plate, a straight-edge adapted to rest on said fiat-bottom platform, a pair of rearwardly extending arms borneby said straight-edge, each arm having anelongated guide-opening therein and being slidably supported bya corresponding one of said pair of lugs, and a screw-threaded member borne by each lug and protruding through the guide-openin of an adjacent am, said member being a apted slidably to engage said opening, to permit said straight-edge to be moved forward and backward upon said opening to permit said straight-edge being, also, adapted to lock said straightedge in a set position.

13. In a press of the-character described, the combin tion with a base-plate therefor, said base-p ate having a rearward extension, of arockered-bottom platform removably borne by the forward portion ofsaid platform, a flat-bottom platform removably bore by said base-plate and extending thereon rearward the rockered-bottom platform, the upper surface of said flat-bottom platform being substantially level with the upper surface of said rockered-bottom platform when the latter is in evenly balanced position on its rockered-bottom, a pair of lugs borne by said rearward extension of said base-plate, av straight-edge adapted to rest on said fiat-bottom platform, a pair of rearwardly extending arms borne by said straight-edge, each arm having an elongated guide-opening therein and being slidably supported by a corresponding one of said pair of lugs, a serew-threaded member borne by each lug and protruding through the guide-opening of an adjacent arm, saidmember being adapted slidably to engage said opening to permit said straight-edge to be moved forward and backward upon said platform, said screw-threaded member being, also, adapted to lock said straightedge in a set position, a slotted member slidably supported in its slot by said straight-edge, a pair of forwardly extendlever pivotally fulcrumed in said bearing, i

a casing borne by. the forward end of said 'arm above said base-plate, a plunger slidable vertically in said casing, said plunger protruding above and below said casing through oppositely disposed openings therein, means borne by the lower portion of said plunger adapted to limit the upward movement of said plunger, a spring borne by said plunger, said spring being adapted normally to hold said plunger in position against downward movement, said lever being adapted to exert power against the upwardly protruding end of said plunger downwardly against the tension of said spring, a vertical groove in said plunger, an inwardly protruding member borne by said casing, said member being adapted to engage said groove in slidable relation there'- in said opening between the flat ridge of saidnose and an adjacentiportion of said holder to hold said holder firmlydn place on said nose.

15. A press of the character described supported on the slidable leaf. of-a table, said table consisting of a air of side guidemembers spaced apart su ciently to support said slidable leaf in slidable relation with said guide-members, a pair of transverse members, one borne by the upper surface of the rear portions of said guide-members and the other borne by the under surfaces of said rear portion, said transverse members with said side guide-members being adapted to form a covered channel for said slidable leaf,

1 said channel having a rearward and a formembers adjacent to the forward end the'reof,- said front-end transverse member ex-'. tending forward beyond the front-end of said guide-members, a pair of members" 1 home by the upper surface'of said front-end ward opening, said. forward opening communicating with the uncovered space between said guide-members, said slidable leaf.

being of sufficient length to extend from the front end of said side guide-membersrear wardly through said covered channel and beyond the rearward opening of said channel, a front-end transverse member'borne by a portion of the under surface of said guidetransverse member, said pair of members-be.-

- that at which said side guide-members arespaced apart andlthe rear edge of each of ing-spaced apart at a distance similar to said pair of members abutting upon the front edge of an adjacent side guid-member, and a middle member removably supported on the upper surface of said frontend transverse member in the spacebetween said pair of members, said middlemember v :having one side-e ge hinged to an adjacent port said slidable leaf in slidable relation with said guide-members, a pair of transverse members, one borne by the upper surface of the rear portions of said guide-members and the other borne by the under surfaces of said rear portion, said transverse members with said side guide-members being adapted to form a covered channel for said slidable leaf, said channel having a. rearward and a forwardjopening,said forward opening communicating with the uncovered space between said guide-members,

.saidslidable-leaf of suflicient length toext'end, from the front end of said side guide-members rearwardly through said covered channel and beyond the rearward open.- ing of said channel, a front-end transverse member borne by a portion of the under surface of said guide-members adjacent to the forward end thereof, said front-end transverse member extending forward beyond the front-end of said guide-members,

a pair'of. members borne by the upper surface of said front-end transverse member,

saidpair of 'members being spaced apart at adistance similar to that at which said side guide-members are spaced apart and the rear edge of each of said pair of members abutting upon the front edge of an adjacent side guide-member, a middle member removably supported on the upper surface ofsaidfront-end-transverse member .in the space between said pairof members,-'said middle member having one'side-edge hinged to an adjacent side-edge of one of said pair of members, the other side-edge of said middle member being free 'to swing upward and away from the adjacent side-edge of the other of said pair of members to permit the space between said pair of members to be cleared for the passage therethrough of said slidable leaf as said slidable leaf is moved forward, said middle member being of a' thickness substantially equal to thatof said slidable table, and aslab removably borne by the upper surface'of said middle-member,- said ,slab being of suificient. thickness ,to.

form a level surface with the upper surface a of the base-plate of the press.

17 A press of the character described supported on the slidable leaf of a table, said table consisting of a pair of side guidemembers spaced apart sufliciently to support said slidable leaf in slidable relation with said guide-members, a pair of transverse" members, one borne by the upper surface of the rear portions of said guide-members and the other borne by the under surfaces of said rear portion, said transverse members with said side guide-members being adapted to form a covered channel for said slidable leaf, said channel having a rearward and a forward opening, said forward opening communicating with the uncovered space between said guide-members, said slidable'leaf being of sufficient length to extend from the front end of said side guide-members rears wardly through said covered channel and beyond the rearward opening of said channel, a front-end transverse member borne'by a portion of the under surface of said guidemembers adjacent to the forward end thereof, said 1 front-end transverse member extending forward beyond the front-end of said guide members, a pair of members borne-by the upper surface of said frontend transverse member, said pair of memhere being spaced a art at a distance similar edge of an adjaeentlside e member, a 7 middle meinber removably supported on upper surface. of said front-end transverse the member in the ace between Said pair of side-edge of sai middle member beingfree toswing and away'from the adjacent side-e ge of the other of said pair of members to "rmit 'the space between said pair of mem rs'1to be cleared for the assage therethrough of said slidable-lea as said 'slidable leaf is moved forward, and a 18 A." ress. of1 'th'e character described sup orte onrthe slidable leaf-of artable,v

"sai table consisting of a ir of, side guide cientl'y to support said slide 1e leafin sli dable, "relation with said "guide-members, a pair, ofi-transverse' members, one bornevby the u persurface of the rear portions of said-v gui e-members and. the other borne by the-undergsurfaces of. th

said rear portion, a said transverse members slab removably borne by the 11 'per surface of said middle member, the thic ess formed by said middle member and said slab thereevel formnf the press.

aced apart with said sideguide members be to-forma covered channel for sai ble leaf, said, channel having a rearward Eanda forward opening, said forward:-' opening 4 communicatin with the uncovered 'ace'b'ee-members, said slida le leaf tween saiglfiu p being of cient length to extendz'from the front end of said side guide-members rear- I wardly through said fcovered channel. and

beyond the rearward opening of said channel, a front-end transverse member home by a portion of the under surface of said guidemembers adjacent to the forward end thereof, said front-end transverse member extending .forward beyond the front-end of said guide-members, a pair of meinbers borne by g the upper surface of said front-end transmembers, said .middle f member,v having one side-edge ed :to an adjacent side-edge of one of sai air of-members, the other here, said middle member having one side- I edge hinged to an adjacent side-edge of one of said pair of members, the other side-edge of said middle member being free to swing u ward; and away fromthe adjacent sideedge of the other of said pair of members to rmit the space between said pair of memb rs to be cleared for the passa e therethrough of said slidable leaf as sai slidable leaf is movedforward, a slab 'removably borne by the up r surface of said middle member, the the es formed by said middle member and saidrslab thereon bein sufliciently eat to b the up er sur ace of said sla 'substantia y on a evel with the upper surface of the wor platform of e press, and means depending from said slab-adapted to enter appropriate openings .in said middle rtion to hold said slab in place on said middle portion.

,i lnfitestimony whereof I hereunto aflix my -sig'n'aturei the presence of. two witnesses.

. PRINCE a GARDNER. wan: WaflaaG'Gnms, NANOI'C. Tnoms. 

